In a game that was low on quality it was the Senegalese international who provided a moment of class with a chipped finish over keeper Alex Palmer after the ball ricocheted to him off Kalvin Phillips. Oliver Glasner’s South London side move to 11th in the Premier League table just five points off European football, while Ipswich remain in the bottom three.
It was a hectic start to the game with chances for both sides. Adam Wharton provided Eddie Nketiah, who was filling in for the injured Jean Phillipe Mateta, with a golden opportunity but the formal Arsenal man fluffed his lines. Ipswich also were a threat going forward with Jaden Philogene and Julio Enciso both forcing Dean Henderson into making good saves.
As the first half wore on the game became more cagey, with Palace struggling to gain control of the midfield and Ipswich forward Liam Delap proving a real handful for the Eagles defence in particular Maxence Lacroix.
The second half started with the slowness that the first half ended with as neither side particularly took the game by the scruff of the neck. The dangerous Delap again had an opportunity and shot over.
As the half continued Eberechi Eze who had a quiet first half started to get more involved and his deflected effort off of Dara O’Shea, looped over the despairing dive of Palmer but hit the post.
Sarr was then called to do some defensive duties as he was forced to clear an effort from Philogene after a goal mouth scramble, where Delap also had a header saved by the body of Henderson.
The home side then really started pushing pressure on with Sarr heading wide from a brilliant Wharton corner and Daniel Munoz failing to capitalize on a poor back pass from O’Shea as he could only shoot straight at Palmer.
Both managers made changes with Glasner introducing Ben Chilwell for Tyrick Mitchell and Daichi Kamada being bought on for Nketiah. This move saw Sarr get pushed through the middle where he was a threat, with Jacob Greaves particularly struggling with the forwards pace. Kieran Mckenna also introduced the dangerous Omari Hutchinson and Ben Johnson, and it was Johnson who had a great chance to take the lead but was unable to get his header at the back post on target.
The game looked to be fading until Sarr popped up with his moment of quality dinking the ball over the on rushing Palmer to secure all three points. The forward celebrated by kicking the corner flag, in a gesture to injured team mate Mateta.
Palace’s great form continues under Glasner and they are a side that no one in the league will want to play, while Ipswich showed why they are in the bottom three as they were too wasteful in front of goal and have a mistake in them at the back.